“Oh no, that wasn’t necessary was it? It seems that once a mean girl, always a mean girl.”
Sage nodded. “She didn’t take it sitting down though...”
Ember creased her forehead. “Don’t you mean lying down?”
“Don’t be silly; why would she be lying down in the hairdressers?”
“No I mean the saying is... oh never mind. What did she say?”
“She told them all to grow up and stop acting like silly schoolgirls.”
“Good for her! That girl never stands up for herself. Do you know if they were shocked?”
“Apparently, they all just stood in silence with their mouths open as she tore into them.”
“What else did she say?” asked Ember now leaning closer.
“She stood up and said: ‘perhaps if you all got your own lives then you wouldn’t still be acting like teenagers picking on other people who have matured since leaving school. You really are a bunch of pathetic losers and you might have considered yourselves queen bees at school but let me warn you all—Karma’s a bitch!’”
Ember’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know she was capable of such aggression. I might have to give her a raise for sticking up for herself like that.”
“I know, that girl can roar,” Sage said as she fist bumped the air. “It makes you wonder how much aggression she’s actually got stored up after all those years of torture.”
Ember sighed. “That’s what I’ve been thinking about. According to Kali, everyone has it within them to murder someone under the right circumstances.”
“Is that another one of her Sun Tzu quotes?” said Sage with a grin.
“No, Agatha Christie apparently,” Ember said, laughing.
“I’m sure Lyndsy didn’t kill anyone. Some people just don’t have it in them; I don’t care what Agatha Christie said.”
Ember nodded. “So who told you all this gossip?”
“It’s not gossip; it is information--helpful information on a suspect in a murder case. And it was Mary the stylist who told me. She also said that before Lyndsy left she told her that those women were never going to leave her alone.”
The two friends spent the next thirty minutes going over what had happened and what would happen to the Broken Broom if they couldn’t find the killer soon and people assumed that Ember had something to do with the deaths.
Sage gave Ember a hug and didn’t let go for at least twenty seconds. Ember struggled to hold back the tears threatening to appear. She pulled away from her friend and took a deep breath in to steady herself.
“Everything is going to be fine,” she said.
Sage nodded. “Of course; with us helping on the case, things will be back to normal in no time.”
Ember waved her goodbye as she walked back up the street and said a silent prayer that they were right.
Seven
The next day wasn’t any better. Ember realized that she needed to clear her head with some good conversation.
One might think a bar would be the best place to forget something awful like a murder, but Ember didn’t have that luxury considering that her bar was where the women were poisoned. Instead, she went to Sage’s general store, the Chiropterium, to destress with her best friend. After the prior day, she realized she needed more Sage in her life.
Sage sat on a stool behind the checkout counter with a book in one hand, her other rummaging through a bag of fruit-shaped candies for her favorite, the banana. She successfully found one and popped it in her mouth before looking up at the sound of the entry bell.
“Hey, Ember! What’s up?”
“Oh, nothing, Sage. I just needed to get out of the Broken Broom for a while; I can’t focus when I’m there.”
“Yeah,” Sage replied, somehow both lovingly and sarcastically, “murder will do that to a place.”
Ember couldn’t help but chuckle. Sage’s sardonic attitude was always something that made her feel better. Ember walked toward the counter, grabbing a bag of chips from one of the shelves on her way.
“You gonna pay for that, Miss?” Sage asked facetiously, raising an eyebrow.
“Sure,” Ember replied, “how’s this?” She asked as she threw one of the chips straight for Sage’s forehead. Sage ducked out of the way just in time to avoid the artillery.
The two laughed with each other as they munched on their snacks and started talking about nothing in particular, the kind of conversation only the best of friends could have.
Their fun was interrupted, though, when the entry bell rang once more. Kara Denners and two others entered, browsing the store shelves for something unknown.
“Hi, guys, welcome in,” Sage called from the counter, “Let me know if I can help you three with anything.”
“Of course, thank you,” Kara replied sweetly before noticing Ember standing next to Sage. “Oh, hello, Ember. What a surprise to see you here,” she said, smiling.
Kara and Ember were already fairly well acquainted: Kara owned the only liquor store in town, and as such, any alcohol going to local businesses first passed through her hands.
Kara was a nice woman and Ember had always enjoyed working with her, but something was unexplainably different about her that day. The smile was there as it always was, but Ember sensed some strange malice in Kara’s eyes.
“Hi, Kara.” Ember responded, “Yeah, I needed to get away from the bar for a bit, and Sage is always willing to lend an ear.”
Kara and her companions approached the counter.
“It’s just so terrible what happened at the Broken Broom,” Kara said sympathetically. “I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with all that, Ember.”
“Thanks for your support, Kara.” Ember wanted to drop the subject; she knew Kara well enough, but they weren’t exactly friends. Ember definitely wasn’t in the mood to discuss the minutiae of a triple homicide and how it could sink her business, but Kara pressed on.
“I suppose it couldn’t have happened to worse people, though.”
“You’re so right, Kara,” one of her companions, a short woman with bobbed brown hair, replied. “I can’t think of anyone who’s missing Laura and her gang. If anything, the town’s a bit more peaceful now.”
“Still,” the third friend spoke up, this one a tall woman with long blond hair and an unnervingly thin face, “that doesn’t mean they should have been killed, Nellie.”
“Bets is right, Nell,” Kara said admonishingly, “just because someone is a jerk doesn’t mean people have the right to take justice into their own hands.”
Before the short woman, Bets, could respond, Kara looked accusingly toward Ember.
Ember, confused, raised her eyebrows and exclaimed, “What are you saying, Kara? That I had something to do with it?”
“Not necessarily, Ember,” Kara replied coolly, “but I don’t think it’s out of the question to wonder.”
Ember grew angry. “That wouldn’t even make sense, Kara. Why would I sabotage my own business like that? Besides, you know me! I would never do something so horrible.”
Kara and her friends remained silent, but it was obvious they didn’t believe Ember. Always protective of her best friend, Sage spoke up.
“Were you ladies planning on buying anything?”
Kara’s attention broke away from Ember and turned toward Sage, “Oh, I’m sorry. Certainly.”
Kara absentmindedly grabbed a candy bar from the display on the counter and handed it over, “Just this, please.” She said with a sickly-sweet grin.
Kara paid the $1.25 for the candy and dropped it in her purse; whatever she’d originally intended to buy from the store was completely forgotten the moment she saw Ember. Kara, Nell, and Bets left without once looking back at Ember.
Fuming, Ember turned to Sage and said “Can you believe those three? They think I did it!”
Sage, equally incensed that someone would accuse Ember of something so atrocious, responded, “I know! It’s like we got rid of three jerks just to replace them
with three more.”
She folded her arms tightly and began shaking her head at the thought of it.
Ember sighed, “I’m gonna get out of here, Sage. I have a lot of thinking to do.”
Sage smiled at Ember and gave her a huge hug. “Of course, Em. Just let me know if you need anything, OK? I’m always here for you.”
“Thanks, Sage,” Ember replied and hugged her friend in kind.
Ember left the store and began the walk home. She was happy to have someone like Sage, but even she couldn’t contain the rage that was brewing inside Ember. Getting accused of murder was something she never thought she would experience, but, now that it had happened, Ember was seething.
Fortunately for Ember, she knew how to direct this anger: she would find out who the real killer was and clear her name. No one was going to get away with this.
Eight
The altercation at Sage’s store had rattled Ember but she was going to be proactive and prove that she wasn’t a killer. If she could just have a look around Jake’s house, she might find something that would connect him to the other victims.
“I’ve seen that look many times before.”
Ember held her hand to her heart as a tall Native American appeared by the whisky selection.
“Hi, Talako,” she said, breathing heavily, “I wish you would warn a girl before appearing. My heart is banging like a tight-skinned drum at a celebration.”
Talako gave her a rare smile. “That look you have is usually followed by trouble.”
“I don’t have a look and why are you here? I’m busy today and I need to pop out.”
“Your great, great, great, great grandmother used to have that exact same look before she pulled my braid and ran off.”
“Really? That was rather childish of her.”
Talako gave Ember a stern look. “She was ten at the time. Our father used to let us race to the river.”
“Oh, sorry. Anyway, I must go.”
“I’ll come with you to keep you safe.”
“I’m only going to the local store,” she said while averting her eyes.
When she looked back at Talako he was still giving her the same look.
“Okay, I’m going to have a quick look around Jake’s house to see if I can come up with anything to help with the case.” She reached in her purse for her keys to lock the door of the pub.
“I do not think this is wise. You should let the sheriff handle it.”
“Sometimes they need a little help,” she said before waving and apparating into Jake’s home office.
The room was extremely neat and clean as was Jake in life. There were framed certificates on the walls, all for business awards and a large swivel chair behind a sturdy wood and metal desk.
In one corner of the room was a tall filing cabinet. Ember walked over and tugged at all the drawers--it was locked. She made her way back to the desk and began opening each drawer until she found a large set of keys on a key ring.
It didn’t take long to find the right key to the cabinet as most of the others were too large. She opened each drawer and checked the contents: mostly work files and a secret bottle of expensive scotch. In the last drawer, she flicked through the files checking for any names she recognized and stopped-- there was a file marked ‘Lyndsy Perez’.
Ember pulled the file out and took it to the desk where she opened it up. It contained several pictures of Lyndsy, some cards, and a few letters. Ember’s heart began to race as she picked up each photograph in turn.
She looked up as she heard a gentle purring sound below her; it was Kali.
“What are you doing here?” Ember asked, sounding scornful but giving the cat a scratch on the head anyway.
Kali nuzzled her head against Ember’s hand. “The big Indian fellow sent me to check you know what you’re doing.”
Ember sighed. “Yes of course I do. I didn’t have a plan as such but I know what I’m doing.”
“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory...”
“Yes, well I’m sure if Sun Tzu was a murder suspect and his business was on the line he would just do whatever was needed. My tactics are to find something that will prove my innocence. Now, may I get on?”
Kali leapt onto the desk beside the file. “What’s this?”
“I think Jake and Lyndsy were lovers,” she said holding up one of the cards. There are photos of Lyndsy here obviously taken by someone who adored her and some cards they sent each other. I was about to read one of the letters.”
The paper the letters were written on was lilac and scented. Ember held one to Kali’s nose.
Ahhchoo! Kali shook her head fiercely. “That stinks!”
Ember laughed as she carefully took the letter from its envelope. “Right, are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin.”
Kali shifted herself into a comfortable position.
Ember was about to read the first line when she noticed something appearing by the door.
“The sheriff has just pulled into the driveway.” Talako said evenly.
Ember’s shoulders slumped. “Just as we were getting to the good bit.” She stood and shoved the cards, photos, and letters into the file and placed them back in the cabinet where she had found them.”
She turned back to Kali and Talako who were both staring at the letter she was going to read still on the desk. “Maybe I should take it with me,” she suggested with a grin.
Kali looked to Talako who gave her another stern look. “Okay, okay I’ll put it back but can one of you run interference for me?”
Kali nodded, jumped off the desk and made her way to the back door where she crept out of a small open window high above the dryer.
Cedric pulled in the drive at Jake’s house. The front of the property was neat and tidy with a small lawn to one side of the drive and a flower border. He had a fleeting thought about how nice it would be to live here.
He began making his way towards the front door and looked down when he felt something by his ankle: it was a cat brushing past him. He smiled briefly and leaned down to stroke the cat on its back before noticing the cat’s features. The lynx-like appearance and fluffy ear tufts; it was Ember’s cat. That could only mean one thing; Ember was nosing about inside the house and had sent her cat out to distract him.
Cedric ran up the drive and used the keys he had from evidence to let himself in. He ran from one room to another but there was nobody there-- just a faint smell of sulphur.
Nine
Ember landed back in her apartment with a sigh of relief. “Now that was a close one.” She took the time to make herself a mug of herbal tea, sighing when she had to use her step stool to grab a container of cinnamon herbal from the top recesses of her pantry.
Being 5’2” had its benefits, but being able to reach things was not one of them. Finally, with her tea brewed, she carried her cup over to the desk she had set up in the corner of the living room, took out a notebook, grabbed her favorite pen, and started a list of the victims and everything she knew about them.
Kali rushed in right behind Ember, jumping up on the desk to clean herself. Once she was done, she peered over Ember’s shoulder at the list she was writing. “You do know that was too close for comfort, right? We almost got caught.”
“We?” Ember asked her. “I didn’t see anyone still in that house but me. I looked around and Talako was nowhere to be found and you had slunk off like the cat you are.”
“Duh? I am a cat, so what else did you expect?”
Ember laughed, then turned her attention back to the list of victims and what she knew about all of them. “You know, every one of the victims had a connection to Lyndsy in one way or another.” Tapping the pen against her bottom lip, she became lost in thought for a second.
“Are you having a dream or just thinking extra hard?” Kali stopped licking one foot to ask. “You seem a little out of it.”
“You would be too if you were being accused of murder. It’s just that
Lyndsy had ample opportunity and motive to kill everyone on this list. They all bullied her according to people I’ve already talked to, and she did fix their drinks that night. It would have been so easy for her to…” Ember trailed off, not able to even finish that sentence.
“Well, do you think she did it?” Kali asked, then got off the desk to go into the kitchen. Looking over her shoulder, she stopped. “Hello? Kitty treats, please. I did a lot for you back there at that house. If it hadn’t been for me Cedric would have found you and you might be spending the night in the hoosegow, instead of at home with your loving familiar.”
Ember laughed, tossed down the pen and went to fill Kali’s dish with food. “How about a can of tuna as a treat. That should show you’re appreciated.”
“It’s a start.” Kali ate her treat daintily, then padded back over to the desk where Ember was still writing her list. “Anything to report?”
Ember sighed. “Not really. We know that Lyndsy hated Jayla and that Jayla and her friends bullied her all the way through high school but is that really a motive for murder. Lyndsy doesn’t care about those boyfriends anymore at all.”
“Stranger things have happened. Some people hold grudges for a long time.”
“Not Lyndsy. She’s so sweet and so gentle. There’s not a violent bone in the girl’s body. I’ve known her all my life and never seen her hurt a fly. She can get mad when pushed, but we all can, can’t we? Even if really pushed, I just don’t see her killing anyone.” Putting the pen down, she stood to make her way into the kitchen once again.
“What are you doing?”
“I need to start one of the desserts for tomorrow’s crowd or they aren’t going to get fed. Even me being accused of murder doesn’t seem to have stifled the residents of this town’s appetite for our world-famous desserts, now does it?”
Dramatic Paws (Kitten Witch Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) Page 3